Stephen Robinson focuses on a range of litigation matters, including corporate internal investigations, government enforcement matters, commercial disputes and monitorships. Prior to joining Skadden in 2010, Judge Robinson served as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2003. While on the bench, Judge Robinson handled a full range of civil and criminal cases.
Prior to serving on the Southern District bench, Judge Robinson held several positions in government. In 1998, President Bill Clinton nominated Judge Robinson as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, where he served for three years. Judge Robinson spent three years (1993-1995) as principal deputy general counsel and special assistant to the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he participated in espionage matters and the Oklahoma City bombing investigation. From 1987 to 1991, Judge Robinson was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted white collar matters, securities fraud and narcotics cases. In 1990, he was awarded the Department of Justice's Director's Award for Superior Service.
Judge Robinson also has extensive experience in the private sector. He began his legal career in 1984 at a corporate law firm in New York City. In 1991, he joined Kroll Associates, an international private investigations firm, as associate general counsel, and later became a managing director. While at Kroll, he investigated Iraqi war crimes for the government of Kuwait and allegations of corruption on behalf of the Brazilian Congress. In 1995, he joined Aetna, Inc. as counsel and later served as chief compliance officer at Aetna U.S. Healthcare.
Judge Robinson recently was named chair of the New York City Bar Association's Committee to Enhance Diversity in the Profession. In addition, he serves as a member of the Cornell University Council and on Cornell Law School's Dean's Advisory Committee. He also serves on the board of directors of Fordham Law School's Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics. From 2002 to 2003, he was the CEO of Empower New Haven, a nonprofit agency based in New Haven, Conn. Judge Robinson, who is a former Yale Law School Senior Research Fellow, has taught both an advanced seminar on white collar crime and in the trial advocacy program at Yale. Since 2006, he has taught appellate advocacy at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Education
J.D., Cornell Law School, 1984
B.A., Cornell University, 1981
Professional Experience
Chief Executive Officer, Empower New Haven (2002-2003)
Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Aetna U.S. Healthcare (1995-1998)
Associate General Counsel and Managing Director, Kroll Associates (1991-1993)
Government Services
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (2003-2010)
U.S. Attorney, District of Connecticut (1998-2001)
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Principal Deputy General Counsel and Special Assistant to the Director (1993-1995)
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York (1987-1991)
Bar Admissions
New York
Connecticut